A key commercial building in the entertainment complex outside the new Bucks arena "will be smaller and have only two levels available for tenants," according to James Nelson of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Updated plans filed with the city of Milwaukee show the Bucks "eliminated several floor-to-ceiling beer kettles from the building, which were a strong visual component in the previous design and signaled that a craft brewery would be part of the development." Bucks Senior VP Alex Lasry said that it is "likely that the building will have a local craft brewery theme but it remains to be seen whether or not beer is actually brewed on the site." Icon Venue Group Exec VP Marc Farha, who represents the Bucks' owners for the arena project, said that the team "cut the number of levels available for lease from four to two." The changes come as the Bucks have "gotten off to a slower-than-expected start in the creation of the entertainment block complex." The Bucks have also "reset their strategy to find a naming partner for the new arena after local prospects didn't come through." The team had "hoped to have a partner by now for the naming rights." Bucks Senior VP/Communications Barry Baum said that the team has "not set a time frame for an announcement of tenants" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/28).
GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR: In Milwaukee, Piet Levy noted the average cost for a concert ticket at the Bucks' new arena will "likely go up because of its design." About 65% of the forthcoming arena's 17,500 seats "will be in the lower bowl, which will typically allow promoters to sell more higher-cost tickets compared with the [Bradley Center], where about 40% of seats are in the lower bowl." Baum said that with just two shows announced so far, GM of Bucks' new arena Raj Saha and team President Peter Feigin "'weren't ready to discuss' concert ticket prices at the new arena." The Bucks said that price increases "will also go up" to see the team play, about $6 or so "for the majority of tickets." There is "greater sticker shock for season passes: one lower level center seat will cost 37% more in the new arena compared to the same seat at the Bradley Center" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/24).
